Der Dicke

You can download a SolidWorks 2009 trial version for free. But I think it works just 90 days.

Shawn68z

iTrader: (6)

Try Alibre. Nice program and the price is definately right. I have been using the trial version for 2 years to do mock up furniture designs. I believe they are now selling it for $99 if you want the full version. Worth looking into.

http://www.alibre.com/



Shawn.

pejota

iTrader: (12)

Ditto on Alibre. I've designed several parts and sent the DXF to my brother who cuts them out with a CNC router.

There is a minor learning curve but just follow the tutorials and you'll figure it out.

nitrobeast

iTrader: (46)

Ive only ran my WGT a few race days so im still getting use to it. This past Saturday i felt the car lacked steering at exit which it never has. When the front tires get really small does it make the foam seem like its getting harder? The front has about 1-2mm of foam on it.

V12

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys. From what I heard 2D-CAD is easier to learn than 3D-CAD and 3D isnīt really needed for the car parts. Alibre is 3D from what I saw.
What do you think of this?

Shawn68z

iTrader: (6)

Yes. The shore rating of the wheels are very sensitive to the depth of the foam.

Shawn.

nitrobeast

iTrader: (46)

Is there a "magic" number you shouldnt go past?

Shawn68z

iTrader: (6)

2D is easier because of the single dimension. Download the trial, and try it. Works really well for just about anything.

Shawn.

Shawn68z

iTrader: (6)

For asphault I run mine down to about 3-4 mm of foam, then put them away for carpet use if they are not chunked. Then run new ones straight from the package again.

For carpet I run the tires until the wheel looks like a rim with electrical tape around it.

When running smaller diameter tires, I will soften my car up alittle bit to help regain the traction that is lost.

Shawn.

Pro ten Holland

iTrader: (1)

1-2mm of foam left? You're practically running on your rims

I went into a run with my modified 235mm pancar on 2mm front foam a few months back. After a minute or so I didn't have any steering left. I wondered what had happened until I inspected the front tires:
I could see the rim on certain places.
I was running on glue and rim rather than rubber

slotracer577

I would say not any easier and might be harder if you try to do drawings with several views. The 3d cad systems all use 2d sketches that are extruded, swept, revolved to create a 3d object. then the drawings just show different views of the 3d object. a much better way to go. Now I am a little spoiled since I have been using pro-e for 14 years and SW for 2.
I do ocassionally use 2d acad for layouts of parts for laser cutting, but even then I import a file from 3d cad first. SW can be purchased as a student version for much cheaper than a full seat.

John

John Stranahan

iTrader: (27)

Nitro Beast- Like pro ten said that magic number is when you see the rim. If you constantly tinker with you camber you will have a nice flat tire when it gets short. With high traction there is nothing faster. With low traction outdoors I tend to run a larger tire. Sometimes a tire will grow a ridge on the inboard side of the sweeper. I use my Dremmel and a sanding drum run at a high angle to rotate the wheel and remove the ridge. It more or less burns or melts the foam off (with no smell) and a rubber band of foam material finally pops off to leave a bevel and a flat tread.

V12-I like this student version of auto cad. It is fully 3-d but you don't have to go there right away. It does expire in a year and is about $150. The files seem to feed the CNC router just fine. My countersinks (My nephew James's countersink) and the extrusion is my first 3-d adventure. I'll see when the prototypes come back. I can't say it is straight forward getting the countersinks in place. What I do now is paste by eye and then adjust the center position using "Properties". I love the properties screen that gives you all the numbers on your object. It has built in calculators to nudge the objects into perfect symmetry or position. The annotation tools are just outstanding. I use them a lot just to check the drawing against the hand made prototype.

nitrobeast

iTrader: (46)

Sounds good guys, thanks

tallyrc

iTrader: (12)

i use A9CAD.. it's free and a simple, recognizable interface.. 2d only, but as someone else mentioned, you only need 2d for carbon parts.. i was using rhino trial for 3d stuff.. i do have a background with autocad so maybe i had a leg up though..

cookie1

john-

love this thread...have you had a chance to evaluate the ballistic 13.5 or 17.5? thanks keep up the good info.